In his hand, he held the taser. His hazel eyes locked on his target. A few feet away stood a creature with scaly skin and a long tail.
"Agent Finn."
He turned and saw Agent Cooper behind him. He motioned him to be quiet as he approached the creature from behind. The creature stirred, confronting him head on. He jabbed the creature with his taser, sending a blue shock of electricity through its body. It collapsed to the ground; its breathing now raspy.
Agent Copper appeared next to him. "Good work."
Riley Finn smiled. "I always get my target."
**
The two agents collected the creature from the woods and boarded the helicopter with it. Riley sat in the back and looked outside to the descending world. His thoughts went back to that night. The night he had waited for Buffy. The night she didn't come. The same feeling ran through his body today. Sadness and loneliness, but at the same time, he felt nothing as if there was a bottomless pit in his stomach aching to be filled.
As the helicopter touched base, Riley and his men stepped out, carrying the comatose demon with them.
"Finn, can I talk to you for a minute?" his superior officer said. Gordon Hayden was a tall broad shouldered man in his late forties who was fit enough to be in his mid-twenties. He placed a hand on Riley's back. "We have an assignment for you back in the States."
"Where, sir?"
"California."
Riley instantly thought of Sunnydale.
"Los Angeles to be more specific," Hayden said.
Riley nodded. "What's the situation?"
"A breed of demons we're not sure about," he said, "but all we know that it needs to be stopped."
"How many men will be coming with me?"
"We want you to go alone so nothing is suspected," Hayden said. "Look around and find out any information, then when you report back to the base, we'll send more men." He looked Riley in the eye. "Are you up for it, Finn?"
Riley didn't hesitate. "When do I leave?"
**
The bright California sun burned in his eyes. He got out of his cab, paid the driver, and walked to his motel room. Riley took off his shirt and paced his room. Sweat was dripping off his forehead. He turned on the air-conditioner in his window and let the air cool him off. He ran his hand through his dark blonde hair and went to sit on his bed. He opened his bag and reached inside.
"Time for some action." He clasped the gun in his hand, ready for tonight's patrol.
**
"Hey, baby, looking for some lovin'?" The petite blonde woman followed Riley as he walked down the street. She was dressed in a tight black dress with bright red lipstick. She took a drag of her cigarette when he didn't respond. "It's your loss, punk!"
He continued walking down the busy city street, making his way past the people of the night. He was getting frustrated. He wasn't finding any creatures of the night. His cell phone rang suddenly. "Finn."
"Any sightings yet?" Hayden said on the other line. "No, sir," he said. "I was thinking about visiting the underground bars, maybe finding out some news."
"Very well. Report back any information."
Riley hung up and turned around the corner to an alleyway. He could sense something lurking in the shadows. He placed his hand underneath his coat to his gun holster. He instantly turned at the sound of footsteps. A teenage girl screamed at his gun.
"Get out of here!" He pushed the girl away. She ran out of the alleyway. Suddenly, a fist slammed into his face sending him to this back. His gun flew out of his hand. Dazed, he stood up and faced a large creature. It was hidden in the dark, but Riley could make out its red eyes and the outline of its wings. The creature growled and stepped towards him. Riley lunged for his gun, but the creature was quicker, grabbing the weapon and breaking it into two.
"Okay," Riley said. "Plan B." He reached inside his coat, pulling out two daggers. He threw one at the demon. It dodged it successfully. The dagger hit a wooden box. "Return," he said and the dagger pulled itself out of the box and flew back into his hands. A new invention by the Initiative.
The demon paused, unsure on the new weapon.
"Come on." Riley's eyes taunted the creature. He held the two daggers in his hands, ready for anything. He suddenly heard the flapping of the demon's wings as it started to fly away. Riley watched as it ascended up the side of the building. He climbed on the ladder of the fire escape, following the demon up. Once on top of the roof, he scanned the area. He gripped the daggers tightly. He heard the ruffling of the wings and turned. A shadow emerged. Riley's eyes glimmered with anticipation. He threw both of the daggers and watched as the demon raised its hands knocking them out of its way. "Return." The daggers rose from the ground and flew back towards Riley's hands.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed him by the neck. The daggers missed his hands, disappearing off the roof. Riley turned to face a second demon. Its strong grasp on his neck was choking him. The demon he had been chasing appeared next to it. They looked him over as if wondering what they should do with him. The first demon took a hold of his head and squeezed. Riley cried out in pain as white flashes exploded before his eyes. It only lasted a moment and then the flashes were gone. The pain was not. The demon holding him dragged him to the edge of the roof and dangled him over it. It looked into Riley's eyes and let go of him.
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